Centre for Applied Legal Studies

What are the shared struggles faced by activists across borders?

This sub-theme will explore the critical role of collective action in addressing systemic injustices as well as share strategies for building connections to strengthen the global human rights movement

Our fourth and final sub-theme for this year's #ActivistSymposium is “South to South Solidarity”

What are some of the mechanisms for repressing human rights activism and how can we effectively resist them?

Join us to analyse case studies and share lessons for strengthening democracy.

Our third sub-theme for this year's #ActivistSymposium is Anti-democracy

CALS will be marking this #WomensMonth by reflecting on our history, the women who have shaped our organisation, the landmark cases on women’s rights we've been involved in and the current cases of our Gender Justice programme

From terra nullius to terrible delay in land restitution and rights South Africa’s land reform journey is still shaped by the legacies of colonial conquest and apartheid

READ: Our Blossom Matizirofa unpacks why our most important legal tools for land reform are failing

mg.co.za/thought-lead...

What impact do austerity policies have on human rights defenders?

This sub-theme will look at the intersection of economic policies and human rights and share strategies for navigating the challenges posed by austerity measures

Our second sub-theme for this year’s #ActivistSymposium is “Aid and Austerity”

This year’s #ActivistSymposium will examine how AI-driven disinformation and digital surveillance are accelerating threats to civic space

@right2protestafrka.bsky.social, @lhr-sa.bsky.social, @noorahmad.bsky.social, @thandis.bsky.social, @whrdinitiative.bsky.social

CALS and our partners are hosting this year's #ActivistSymposium on 16 - 17 September under the theme “Navigating activism in an anti-hunan rights era”

We have a number of sub-themes which we will be introducing in the coming weeks, starting with “Misinformation and AI”

Energy apartheid: Mining companies transition without justice Anglo Platinum has invested in renewable energy but ignored the local community’s proposals for socially-owned clean energy

READ: Our Robert Krause discusses how mining communities are being left behind in the move to renewable energy

mg.co.za/thought-lead...

This #MandelaDay, please consider supporting organisations at the forefront of advancing human rights and social justice in South Africa.

You can contribute directly towards #ReshapingJustice by donating to CALS: devman.wits.ac.za/devman/legal...

Prof Gevers participated on a panel on strategic litigation, providing insights into legal strategies for securing reparations; reflecting on challenges; and exploring remedies available at national, regional and international levels

Participants identified and developed high-impact legal cases that could advance reparations through the African human rights system and international mechanisms

On 3 – 4 July, our director Prof Christopher Gevers participated in the Reparatory Justice Surgery organised by the Pan African Lawyers Union

The event brought together legal experts, affected communities and strategic litigators

#YearofReparations

BREAKING: The UN has just published a ground-breaking report urging “trade unions, lawyers, civil society & ordinary citizens to press for boycotts, divestments, sanctions, justice for Palestine & accountability at international and domestic levels.”

Full report ➡️ loom.ly/pPBB35I
#EconomyOfGenocide

Catch up on recent CALS highlights in the latest edition of our quarterly newsletter: payg.rocketseed.net/public/messa...

Or sign up for future editions here: wits.ac.za/cals/cals-qu...

CALS and the Stop the Bleeding Campaign are co-hosting an Advocates' Masterclass on climate justice and reparations on the sidelines of the Pan African Lawyers Union annual conference #PALU2025 featuring our director Prof Christopher Gevers

📅 27 June 2025
🕘 09:00
📍Côte d'Ivoire

In an open letter, 15 human rights and legal organizations warn all individuals and entities involved in the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s inhumane and deadly operations of potential complicity in war crimes, crimes against humanity and possibly genocide 👉 trialinternational.org/latest-post/...

Today, CALS was at Constitution Hill celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Constitutional Court

We have been privileged to receive landmark decisions over the last 30 years on the rights to life, housing, equality, social security, freedom and security of the person and others

Battle for energy justice: Why we must win social ownership Electricity must be treated as a public good and a fundamental human right

Battle for energy justice: Why we must win social justice

mg.co.za/thought-lead...

CALS is pleased to welcome Prof E. Tendayi Achiume who is delivering the next #ReshapingJustice seminar this afternoon. Her address is entitled “Corporate Border Imperialism”

Put an end to four centuries of corporate plundering of Africa Companies must be held accountable for their depredations before the next scramble for the continent under the guise of a green transition

READ: Our Christopher Gevers discusses the history of corporate exploitation on the African continent and why we need a #BindingTreaty on business and human rights

mg.co.za/thought-lead...

Last week, CALS and our partners at @lhr-sa.bsky.social and AIDC hosted the 7th African Regional Indaba on the #BindingTreaty on business and human rights

One of the outcomes was strong support for an African treaty on corporate accountability

Find out more: www.wits.ac.za/news/sources...

CALS is proud to welcome Prof Noura Erakat who is delivering the inaugural #ReshapingJustice seminar this afternoon. Her address is titled “Ongoing Nakba, Justice and the Limits of Law”

Apartheid, crimes against humanity: How the law remembers the past The 80th anniversary of WWII is an opportune moment to reflect on the future of justice in South Africa

READ: Our Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane and Tebelelo Lentsoane discuss how law can be used as an instrument of memory and what this can teach us about our past, present and future

mg.co.za/thought-lead...

It's Day 2 of the African Regional Indaba on a #BindingTreaty on business and human rights hosted with @lhr-sa.bsky.social and AIDC.

Today, we are joined by representatives of communities, civil society organisations, African states and human rights bodies

#TreatyIndaba2025 #BizHumanRights

Today, we begin the 7th annual African Regional Indaba on the #BindingTreaty on business and human Rights with our partners at @lhr-sa.bsky.social and AIDC

The Indaba brings together representatives from communities, civil society and African states

#TreatyIndaba2025 #BizHumanRights

There are still significant disagreements about the treaty's text, with business-friendly states seeking to weaken its binding obligations. African states and civil society have a key role to play in advocating for an effective treaty at the UN, which is why we are coming together this week